In this episode of The Curiosity Exchange, we sit down with the one and only Biconic—a cisgender woman and powerhouse in the Houston drag scene. We dive deep into the rising movement of AFAB (Assigned Female at Birth) queens and break down the misconceptions about women performing drag.

Biconic opens up about the current political climate in Texas, specifically the impact of SB 12 (the "Drag Ban"), and why bills targeting drag artists are actually hurting the community and parents' rights. We also discuss the hypocrisy of loving movies like Mrs. Doubtfire while policing local drag shows.Plus, get the details on Houston’s only Sapphic-hosted, zero-cost Drag Brunch at Hungry Like the Wolf!

The Curiosity Exchange Links:

SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/@TCE_Show

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Biconic Links:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebiconic

In this episode of The Curiosity Exchange, host Ish Barri sits down with close friend and "overall goofball" Twanna Davis for a raw, honest, and often hilarious conversation about raising a son with autism. Twanna opens up about her journey—from noticing the early signs like repetitive behaviors and sensory sensitivities to navigating the complexities of the diagnosis process. She shares her unique parenting philosophy, explaining how she learned to communicate effectively with her son by understanding his literal way of thinking rather than reacting with frustration. The discussion also dives deep into the challenges of the school system. Twanna discusses her fierce advocacy for her son, the lack of teacher training she has encountered, and why she refuses to let her child be labeled or limited by others' misunderstandings. Whether you are a parent, educator, or just looking to understand neurodivergence better, this episode offers a heartwarming and eye-opening perspective on the "superpower" that is autism. In this episode, we cover: Early signs of autism and the diagnosis journey. How literal thinking affects communication. The difference between "bad behavior" and sensory processing issues. Advocating for special needs students in the school system. The unique strengths and intelligence of children on the spectrum.

Chapters (Timestamps)

00:00 – Intro: Welcome to The Curiosity Exchange

01:46 – Meet the Guest: Twanna's Family Dynamic

02:17 – What is Autism? (In Her Own Words)

03:51 – Sensory Sensitivities & Routine: Food and Textures

04:52 – Early Signs: The "Hot Water" Incident & Repetitive Behaviors

06:04 – Social Interactions: The "Introverted Extrovert"

07:06 – The "Einstein" Mind: Coding vs. Tying Shoes

09:28 – Explaining ADHD & Autism: "100 TVs in a Dark Room"

11:35 – The Medical Diagnosis Process & School Paper Trails13:14 – Emotional Reaction to the Diagnosis

13:50 – Parenting Strategies: "Self-Governing" & Tone Checks

16:29 – The Joys: High Intelligence & Brutal Honesty

19:21 – Shared Interests: Anime, Cosplay, and Comicpalooza

21:54 – How Understanding Changed the Parenting Approach

27:43 – Support Systems & Researching "Real Time" Solutions

29:04 – Advocacy in Schools: Dealing with Teachers & Labels

31:40 – The Problem with Special Ed Classes ("Just Coloring All Day")

33:51 – Advice for New Parents: Patience & Advocacy

35:08 – A Real-World Example: Handling a Parent-Teacher Conference

37:08 – Hopes for the Future & Closing Message on Awareness

The Curiosity Exchange Links:

SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/@TCE_Show

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Twanna Davis Links:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ms.pink.the.enigma

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Ms.Pink.The.Enigma/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TwannaJazzlynandKalebDavis

X: https://www.x.com/MsPinkTheEnigma

This episode features legendary Australian bodybuilder Christine Envall, known for redefining the limits of female bodybuilding. Christine shares her journey from competing in small local shows in Australia in the early 1990s to becoming a global icon. She discusses the challenges of breaking into a sport that often resisted muscular women, her experiences competing in both NABBA and IFBB federations, and the eventual recognition that earned her a pro card.

Christine reflects on the highs and lows of her career: the struggle with weight classes, the toll of injuries, and the resilience required to keep showing up despite setbacks. She also contrasts the grandeur of the Olympia stage with the more intimate Rising Phoenix competition, offering insight into how the sport evolved over decades. Ultimately, her story is one of persistence, passion, and carving out space for women who wanted to embrace size, strength, and authenticity in bodybuilding.

⏱️ Chapters• 00:00 – Introduction: Ish introduces Christine Envall as a trailblazer in bodybuilding.

• 02:00 – Early Beginnings: Christine’s start in Australia in 1991, when female bodybuilding was rare.

• 05:00 – NABBA vs IFBB: Navigating federations, cultural differences, and the pushback against muscular women.

• 10:00 – Breaking Barriers: How Christine earned her pro card and became a global competitor.

• 15:00 – The Weight Class Struggle: Challenges of competing as a heavyweight despite height restrictions.

• 20:00 – Injuries & Setbacks: Rotator cuff and bicep injuries that signaled the end of her competitive career.

• 25:00 – Olympia vs Rising Phoenix: Comparing the grandeur of Olympia with the intimacy of Rising Phoenix.

• 30:00 – Lessons Learned: Christine’s philosophy of consistency, resilience, and showing up no matter what.

• 35:00 – Consistency Over Perfection: Christine explains her mindset shift in her comeback years: focusing less on chasing the “perfect peak” and more on repeatable, consistent conditioning.

• 38:00 – The Gamble of Peaking: She discusses the risks of peaking for shows — how athletes can look dramatically better or worse depending on timing, and why she chose reliability over gambling with her physique.

• 41:00 – Lessons from Entrepreneurship: Christine draws parallels between bodybuilding and business, emphasizing reproducibility and scalability. She highlights how consistency in preparation mirrors entrepreneurial principles.

• 44:00 – Competing Across Multiple Shows: She shares how she developed a system that allowed her to compete in multiple shows back‑to‑back without burning out, ensuring she could deliver strong performances repeatedly.

• 47:00 – Legacy of Resilience: Christine reflects on how her approach evolved with age and experience, stressing the importance of showing up authentically, regardless of external judgments or placements.

The Curiosity Exchange Links:

SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/@TCE_Show

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Christine Envall Links:

Website: https://christineenvall.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Cenvall/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christinebenvall/